Rainy Weekend Babble

I had a joy filled week, maybe that is why I'm a little blue today and the rain is getting me down? Who knows. R and S are both napping, so I am taking a mental break from life. Well okay, I'm doing laundry, working on Stella & Dot business, and catching up on my guilty pleasure T.V. show. But this commercial makes me smile. ;)




As I said, it was a busy and fun week. Monday was 16 years since my transplant, a good friend spent a few days with us and afforded me the luxury to escape from reality for a few days (post dedicated to this visit coming soon), and Friday was my darling cousin's 21st birthday. We went to visit her at work and took her a birthday gift.

Of course, yesterday was another fun day in the world of college football. The last few years I get more excited about college football than I do the NFL because the college kids just seem to care more and have more spark for the game. Here is S sporting her new hat!

We have season tickets to the Utes games, so my mom and R went together. It was a rainy day and I just didn't want to go stand in the rain. (I know, I'm a bad fan!) So, S and I went to my parents' house to watch it with my dad. The Utes beat Colorado State 59-6. Okay, beat is putting it mildly! We are 7-0 now and I have a feeling we are going to be BCS busters once again!

Random Friday

Yikes! I just noticed the date of my last post. I've been a bad little blogger this week, haven't I? Time is just flying by. It has been a fun week and of course, busy as always. Here are some random things floating around my brain;

• I had some outfits and photos ready for 'What I Wore Wednesday' but obviously I haven't blogged them yet. I am in love with that concept because it is always nice to have extra inspiration for dressing more fun than I normally would and being creative with my wardrobe. And really, it doesn't take more time to put a little bit more thought into what I am wearing for the day. An added bonus is that if I'm having a lousy day, at least my mood is perked up a little bit. I think I might have to add S to some of my photos though because she does have some adorable outfits!
  

• S is having problems sleeping, she wakes up multiple times a night. Last night it was literally every.single.hour. At first I thought maybe it was night terrors, but now I'm not so sure. She has been sleeping through the night since about 3 months old. I don't know if she is having nightmares or what is going on, but it breaks my heart because during the day she is all smiles.

• You know, sometimes being a mommy and having a BS in Child Development is a very bad combination. I feel like I can see every little area and detail where I am failing her. Mommy guilt is tough stuff. Every day I pick apart every tiny little mistake I have made. I thought I had guilt issues before mommyhood. I need to work on giving myself a break or I'm going to drive myself crazy.

• I am so excited for the Utes to play New Mexico tomorrow. We are 2-0 and it is our first road game of the season. I was actually able to go to the game last weekend with my mom when we played UNLV and won 38 to 10.
  

• Trying to figure out what Baby S is going to be for Halloween. I am thinking Pebbles? Her hair is the perfect length and color!
  

• I want to decorate for Fall but it has been 90 degrees all week!

• We went to the state fair a few days ago. I delight in watching things through Sookie's eyes as she experiences them for the very first time. It reminds me we should all approach life with such zest and wonder.

• Today was not a good day. I was so frustrated by silly things. I really don't like when I let small issues overwhelm me. I even tried wearing Bare Escentuals blush in "courage" in a desperate attempt to find some. (Courage, that is.) But I need to remember and focus on the big picture. I have a beautiful daughter who is HEALTHY against all odds. I get to spend my life with the most incredible man who would do anything for me. We have beautiful family and friends surrounding us. I am SO lucky to be able to stay home with Baby S and spend so much time with her. Yes, it's difficult. Yes, I'm exhausted. Yes, motherhood is not for the weak. Yes, just one smile from her is worth it all.
  

Up Late, Go Utes!

I'm up late being crafty again. Which is actually strange because I am new at indulging in the crafty facet of my personality. I tend to get frustrated if I can't do things perfectly on the first try. I'm making a shirt to wear to the Utes football game tomorrow! I have plenty of Utes shirts but red just clashes with my coloring. You see, I was blessed with the traditional redheaded pale as a ghost complexion and of course my former school and football team has to have red as one of their team colors. I'm finding a happy medium with this cute shirt!

I used a plain black tee I already owned. For the rosettes I bought a red tank on clearance for 97 cents at Old Navy and cut it up into strips. I might add some pearls in the middle of the flowers too for an extra touch. I think it is cute considering how new I am to this adventure of making embellished tees. ;)

I'm Loving...

After a rough weekend with my health, (having painful gallstone attacks which I am trying to treat naturally because I really want to avoid surgery) today I'm feeling optimistic and I am so thrilled for some things!



My online fabric flower class, piece by piece starts today. It is taught by the oh so fashionable and talented, Elizabeth Kartchner. In the end I will have my very own embellished tee. I am so excited! I have been adoring all the cute embellished shirts everywhere lately but most of them are more than I would like to spend. I have been wanting to make my own for months now, however I am sewing challenged and never knew where to start. I picked the cream and turquoise combination and I'm going with a gray tee. I hope the color palate works out well!

Saturday night R and I took my mom to the airport. She is attending IPNA (International Pediatric Nephrology Association). Tomorrow from noon to 6 pm, Cystinosis Research Network will be featured. This is an incredible opportunity for us and has been in the works for 5 years! I am still in shock it is happening but so ecstatic that it finally is a reality. It means so much to our extremely small community of only about 500 patients in the United States. I see this as a turning point in our battle to find better treatments and improve the quality of life of those of us living with Cystinosis.



Now, I love summer. I love cute sandals, snow cones, watermelon and concerts on July nights. But this morning I became really eager for fall, when I heard a crash in the kitchen as a breeze came through the window and knocked my vase into the sink. (It was not broken, thank goodness!) It is only supposed to get to 69 degrees today! I am drooling over all the darling boots I see at DSW, Victoria's Secret and Gojane.com



From my love of boots to my love of football! The number 24 ranked Utah Utes take on number 15 ranked Pittsburgh on Thursday! I hope to make it to the game as we have excellent season tickets in the former student section, but it just depends on what my gallstones decide to do that day. Ha! I was only able to make it to one game the entire season last year because of the pregnancy, so I want to make up for it this year. It promises to be a great game though!




Even though we have only been at it for a few weeks now, I get such a kick out of how quick S has caught on to the concept of solid foods. We still haven't found a high chair yet (I know, it is at the top of my to do list!) so we have been feeding her in the bumbo on top of the table. It is a challenge because she wants to turn around all the time and doesn't want to sit straight in it. Anyway, I want to learn how to make my own baby food for her, but today she gets to try carrots! I bask in watching her figure out if she likes something or not the first time she tastes it. The faces she pulls are pricess! So far she has tried rice cereal, sweet potatoes, squash, and peas. Her pediatrician recommended not giving her any kind of fruit, (not even juice) until she has had all the vegetables. I'm all for this, I want her to have a love and appreciation for all things veggie.

Happy Monday! It is going to be a fabulous week!